as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
a soap that promises to help me exfoliate all that dry, flaky skin I've apparently been carrying around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exfoliate
Like the restaurant, Toja draws on local traditions with a spa menu that includes invigorating pijat massages and exfoliating scrubs with rice, ginger, and candle nut.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
With all that in mind, below are Vogue’s six favorite exfoliating deodorant formulas to know.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
This refreshing exfoliating toner clears out buildup that can exaggerate uneven texture, thanks to a 4-HA complex (AHA, BHA, PHA, LHA) that sweeps away dead skin cells without tipping into irritation.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
At the same time, ceramides help reinforce the skin barrier so the exfoliating ingredients don’t leave skin feeling stripped or dry.
—Hana Hong, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exfoliate
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
With all that in mind, below are Vogue’s six favorite exfoliating deodorant formulas to know.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2026
This refreshing exfoliating toner clears out buildup that can exaggerate uneven texture, thanks to a 4-HA complex (AHA, BHA, PHA, LHA) that sweeps away dead skin cells without tipping into irritation.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
At the same time, ceramides help reinforce the skin barrier so the exfoliating ingredients don’t leave skin feeling stripped or dry.
—Hana Hong, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exfoliate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exfoliate
shed
Verb
-
Snap, the Los Angeles-area company behind Snapchat, will indeed shed 1,000 staffers, or about 16% of its full-time workforce.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Along the way, the Yale art historian inflects canonical works with fresh insight, shedding light on the two seasons into which the artist’s sculpture is relentlessly confined in art historical accounts.—
Ara H. Merjian,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exfoliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exfoliate. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
